David Lindsay

The East County Water Control District today is asking the public for help in solving crimes that have plagued the district causing taxpayers money in extensive property damages.

Just recently the water control district has experienced theft and vandalism of district property in two locations Halfway Pond (Mirror Lakes) and Harns Marsh.

The recent theft at the district’ facilities includes the systematic removal of gates in Halfway Pond totaling approximately $2,000 in total cost, according to Carla Ulakovic, a spokeswoman for the water district.

She said ECWCD owns 550 acres of land at Halfway Pond (Mirror Lakes) an area that is crucial to recharging aquifers and continuing water storage efforts in Lehigh. She also said that Halfway Pond and the privately owned Savanna Lakes form an area that is roughly bounded by Milwaukee Boulevard on the north, SR82 on the south, Homestead Road on the east and Grant Boulevard on the west.

“It is alarming to know this had to be a premeditated effort which required select tools and skills to remove the gates, said David E. Lindsay, ECWCD district manager.

ECWCD is working with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office in an investigation and to guard against theft and destruction at its facilities and is asking the public for help in preventing this type of costly and destructive behavior, Lindsay said.

They urge the public to notify the Sheriff’s Office if they see suspicious activity. Call 911 and report it.

Suspicious activity that should be reported immediately includes vandalism, individuals working at odd hours, unmarked vehicles loitering near or accessing district facilities, partying on district property and unidentified individuals who appear to be taking equipment or materials from a site, according to Ulakovic.

She said if vandalism has already occurred to ECWCD facilities, the public is asked to call the water control district directly at 239-368-0044.

Over the last year, damages have included such actions as illegal dumping, cutting fences, trespassing, littering, theft of district fencing materials, destruction to native vegetation caused by the use of ATVs and the destruction of land and habitat.

Lindsay said the destruction has spread to adjacent parcels owned by private developers. Earlier this year, the ECWCD and developers started a cost-sharing project, totaling about $20,000 to dig a ditch and install 1.25 miles of fence to protect their properties.

But since the fence has been in place, Lindsay said the theft and vandalism received in the Halfway Pond area totals around 13 percent of the initial project cost.

“The illegal actions by individuals have been on the rise, despite previous efforts to enforce Florida statutes and ordinances on trespassing, littering, and destruction of both infrastructure and property,” Lindsay said. “These actions negatively impact our community and can present safety issues and are a cost to taxpayers.”

Ulakovic said in a news release that the public’s help is appreciated as the district works to maintain the condition of its facilities and provide uninterrupted, cost-effective service to residents.

The district is owned by the citizens and they are the ones who are being hurt by these crimes, she said.